Name: Holiday Cookie Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled); 1 cup dark brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 cup chocolate chunks or chips; 1/4 cup sprinkles

These easy Holiday Cookie Bars are soft, gooey, buttery, and loaded with chocolate chunks and festive sprinkles. This simple chocolate chip cookie bar recipe comes together in just 45 minutes and makes the perfect Christmas cookie, holiday dessert, festive baking recipe, or easy treat for parties and gatherings. Customize these delicious cookie bars with different sprinkles and chocolate chips for any holiday or special occasion.

I know the holidays are all about cookies. But cookie bars? Up the delicious factor by 100.

If I had to pick, chocolate chip cookies are easily one of my all-time favorite foods. And I love cookie bars even more.

You get all the warm, chocolate deliciousness of a cookie, but with a little more gooey, doughy-ness. Not a word, but just trust me.

And if you’re thinking “the last thing I need this holiday season is more dessert,” hear me out.

The holiday season is such a short part of the year. In fact, it makes up less than 5% of the entire year.

It’s to be expected that your diet will look a little differently than usual during this time of year. And it’s perfectly okay.

A few days – or even weeks – truly won’t impact your health much in the long run. Zoom out – it’s your diet on the whole that counts: including those other 50 weeks of the year.

Try to listen to your body this time of the year. Recognize when you’re full, try to eat when you’re hungry. Allow yourself to eat things that sound good but also to eat things that just look good.

If you end up eating a little more dessert than usual, it’s really, truly, okay.

Oh and if you’re reading this not holiday season… same concept applies!

Dessert is delicious and shouldn’t be avoided if you love it. Instead, make it a part of a balanced, varied diet, and it’s absolutely nothing to stress over.

Why You’ll Love These Holiday Cookie Bars

These cookie bars make a fun and delicious dessert for any time of year.

They’re a unique spin on a traditional cookie. Instead of a classic chocolate chip cookie, try turning your cookie into bars.

This easy recipe is so versatile too. Making it for Valentine’s Day? Use pink, red, and white sprinkles. 4th of July – try red, white, and blue sprinkles.

Make these cookie bars as a fun dessert for any holiday.

How to Make Holiday Cookie Bars

Prep ingredients

Preheat the oven to 350 F for these Holiday Cookie Bars. Generously grease a 9×13 baking dish.

Mix wet ingredients

In a large bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth and combined.

Mix in dry ingredients

Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder to the bowl. Mix until smooth and cohesive.

Fold in chocolate & sprinkles

Fold in the chocolate chunks and sprinkles, reserving some for the top of the bars.

Pour into baking dish

Pour the batter into the baking dish, using a spatula to spread it evenly and smooth it on top. Add extra chocolate chunks and sprinkles to the top of the batter.

Bake

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out only a little wet.

Cool & slice

Let the Holiday Cookie Bars cool fully – they will continue to cook while they cool.

Serve

Cut these Easy Holiday Cookie Bars into slices and serve for the holidays!.

If You Love These Cookie Bars, Try These

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: This more wholesome cookie bar is made with whole wheat flour.
Chocolate Chip Mini Skillet Cookie: A skillet cookie is such a fun take on a cookie.
Apple Cinnamon Skillet Cookie: And for a fall version, you’ll love this apple skillet cookie.
Air Fryer Monster Cookies: Another fun way to make cookies – make them in the air fryer.
4-Ingredient Cookies & Cream Truffles: Or turn them into chocolate-dipped truffles!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Butter: You’ll need unsalted butter that’s melted and cooled.
Brown sugar: This recipe uses dark brown sugar.
Granulated sugar: You’ll also use granulated white sugar.
Eggs: Use 2 medium size eggs.
Vanilla extract: Just a little vanilla extract adds plenty of flavor.
All-purpose flour: These cookies use 2 cups of all-purpose flour.
Baking soda: You’ll need 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Chocolate chips: You can use chocolate chips or chunks (or both!). The more, the better when it comes to chocolate, IMO 🙂
Sprinkles: Use any sprinkles that fit the holiday you’re making these for. Red, white, and blue for July 4th; red and green for Christmas; blue and white for Hanukkah; red, pink and white for Valentine’s Day, etc.

Easy Holiday Cookie Bars Notes

Make them any time: Not making these during holiday season? Use any type of sprinkles you like on these Easy Holiday Cookie Bars. Rainbow sprinkles are always a favorite in my house.
Cooking tips: Make sure to let these cookie bars cool fully before cutting into them. They’ll continue to cook slightly once out of the oven and it’s easiest to cut them once they’re fully cooled, otherwise you risk the middle sinking. Remember that all ovens are different too – if a knife in the center is still coming out pretty wet, add a few more minutes of baking time.
Add ons: Try a chocolate chip walnut version with chopped walnuts added in or a chocolate chip raisin version if that’s your thing.
Storage: Store these Easy Holiday Cookie Bars bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months!

Frequently Asked Questions

Cookie bars can look slightly underdone in the center when they first come out of the oven because they continue to set as they cool. If the center is very wet or jiggly, though, they likely need a few more minutes in the oven. Be careful not to overbake them if you want a soft, chewy center.

Cookie bars use a similar dough to traditional cookies, but instead of scooping individual cookies onto a baking sheet, the dough is baked together in a baking dish and sliced into bars. This makes them especially easy when you’re baking for a holiday or feeding a crowd.

Can I make cookie bars with gluten-free flour?

A 1:1 gluten-free baking flour may work as a substitute for all-purpose flour, although the final texture can vary depending on the flour blend.

How do you know when the cookie bars are done baking?

Look for a lightly golden top and set edges. The center can still be slightly soft when the bars come out of the oven since it will continue to firm up as the bars cool. Avoid waiting until the center is completely firm, which can result in dry or overbaked cookie bars.

Course: Dessert